A/N: Hey guys sorry for the late update of this story…had a bit of a writing block on what to write and didn't do much writing at all. Wrote a little more this time so the next chapter should come up a little sooner. I wonder how many of you will notice that this chapter is longer than the rest so far! Again, thank you for being patient on awaiting the newest chapter. So without further adieu, here's the latest chapter of our knuckle head, Naruto's training and ever late sensei-Kakashi!
Naruto awoke the next morning in the bright early morning sun. He quickly ate his breakfast and got changed and headed over to Kakashi's apartment. Nothing would steer him away today from his training. He searched the village for Kakashi's apartment. After a few minutes he found it and knocked loudly on the door of room 233. Kakashi slowly opened the door. He was surprised to see Naruto standing in front of his door step.
"Naruto don't knock so loudly, it's still very early in the morning." Kakashi said.
"Well you said that we would start training first ting in the morning." Kakashi said.
"Yes but I didn't mean come to my apartment this early. Oh well, you might as well come in."
Kakashi moved aside for Naruto who gaped at his apartment space.
"Wow this is a nice apartment, it's huge!" Naruto said.
"It's not that big, it's just a little bigger than yours, Naruto." Kakashi said putting his vest on. "Make yourself at home, Naruto."
Naruto wandered into Kakashi's bedroom where he saw a picture of him and his teamates.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei, is that you in this picture?" Naruto asked.
"Which picture are you referring to?" Kakashi said stepping into his room.
Naruto pointed to the picture.
"Oh that one, well that's a picture of me, Rin, Obito and the fourth hokage." He said.
"The fourth hokage was your sensei?" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes he was, but that was before he became hokage." Kakashi explained.
"Wow…." Naruto stared in awe at the picture.
"Come on, Naruto, we better get going." Kakashi said.
Naruto followed him out.
"Look, Naruto, how about I meet you at the training ground in an hour?" Kakashi said.
"Huh, why, you said we would train!" Naruto protested.
"And we will, I promise, but I have to do something first, ok?" Kakashi reassured him.
"I suppose so." Naruto pouted.
"It's something I do every morning before I begin my day." Kakashi said.
'I'm sorry, Naruto, but this is an important matter. Perhaps someday you'll understand.' Kakashi thought as he walked to the memorial.
There were graves for his fallen companions but he preferred to visit them all at once, occasionally going to the individual grave stones. Sometimes he would just visit for Obito's sake.
Naruto's generation is lucky; not knowing the hardship of war or a friend lost as a result. Of course there were deaths of fellow shinobi that would bring a dark cloud over the village, but to live n such peaceful times, no wars, only treaties was truly blissful.
'I can only hope that Naruto and the others don't live through what we had to before. Back then I thought rules and regulations were everything then, how foolish I was.'
He stood silently at the monument for an hour, reminiscing of his foolish younger self and the lessons he's learned. His students knew he had close friends who died. He told them that the second day, never piecing his lateness with it. The late morning sun warmed his back as he turned in its direction.
'Sorry, old friends, I'd stay longer but I promised a certain knuckle head I'd continue his training.'
He fled from the monument and joined Naruto who was already hard at training.
"Hey you're supposed to wait for me, you know that." Kakashi said as he walked towards Naruto.
"Yeah I know but I waited for an hour but figured you'd be longer so I gave myself a head start to save time." Naruto said.
"Well next time wait for me before continuing." Kakashi warned.
He whipped out his book while keeping a close eye on Naruto.
Just as he witnessed before, Naruto was advancing quickly day by day using his multi shadow clone jutsu. He spent the remainder of the week supervising him and occasionally giving useful tips.
However, upon the seventh day of training, Shikamaru joined them for a short visit. Naruto stopped to greet him.
"Hey, Shikamaru, how's it going?" He said waving.
"Um, I'm fine, Naruto, how's the training going?" Shikamaru asked.
"Great, I thin I'm going to mater it today!" Naruto said.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Naruto. You may master this jutsu today, or not." Kakashi added.
"Don't say that, Kakashi-sensei, I'll master it this time for sure, believe it!" Naruto exclaimed with a fist in the air.
Shikamaru turned to Kakash. "Anyway, I was wondering if I could talk you, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi nodded, noting his seriousness. "Sure, let's talk by the trees over there." He pointed to the trees bordering the edge of the training ground.
"Naruto, Shikamaru and I are going to be over by those trees. You continue your training in the mean time and don't worry; I'll still be able to see you." Kakashi said.
Naruto grumbled under his breath as he continued to work with his shadow clones.
Shikamaru followed Kakashi into the shaded trees.
"So what's on your mind, Shikamaru?" He asked.
"Well it's about Asuma, and the two akatsuki members, Hidan and Kakuzu. I've been tracking their movements and thought about ambushing them. At least there may be two less akatsuki members to worry about." Shikamaru said.
"You're talking about vengeance on what they did to Asuma?" Kakashi said.
"Yeah but I know that Ino and Choji and I can take them down! I've already come up with a plan and that's why I came to you first. We can't do it alone and I was wondering if you could help us." Shikamaru said.
"Look, I know how you feel but vengeance will get you nowhere, Shikamaru. Surely you must know that already." Kakashi said.
"I know but with you we'd make the perfect team, and I was thinking if Naruto could come along, we could use his wind chakra and this time I'll ensure we'll succeed." Shikamaru said.
Kakashi sighed. "Does Tsunade know about this?"
"No, I haven't told her yet." Shikamaru said.
Kakashi stared at him silent for a few minutes.
"This plan of yours is dangerous and reckless. You're planning to face another A ranked mission, one that's several levels above your chuunin rank." Kaklashi began.
Shikamaru looked down.
"But you do have a point. They do need to be stopped, and Ino and Choji combined with Naruto and I make the perfect team." Kakashi said.
Shikamaru met his gaze, smiling. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
"Now all we have to do is convince Tsunade. Naruto, come here, we need to talk to you." Kakashi said.
All the Naruto's looked up in confusion. He dispersed his clones and ran over. "What's going on, what were you two talking about?"
"Listen up, Naruto because I'm only going say this once so save your questions for later because we don't have much time." Shikamaru said.
Naruto cocked his head to the side as Shikamaru explained his plan.
Meanwhile Tsunade was busy monitoring Asuma's progress.
"Well you've made a little progress today, Asuma. Your body seems to be responding well to the treatment." Tsunade said.
"Well that's some good news." Asuma said.
"Don't think you're off the hook, though. You still have a long recovery ahead. You really gave us quite a scare. Everyone was afraid you wouldn't make it." Tsunade said.
"Yeah sorry about that, next time will be different, I promise." Asuma said.
"Well in any case," Tsunade turned to Kurenai "I expect to se you for your first check up tomorrow."
Kurenai nodded. "Yes I haven't forgotten."
"I'll be around for Asuma and a few errands but I'm leaving Shizune to be able to keep my eye on the both of you." Tsunade said.
Kurenai blushed slightly.
"Especially you, Asuma, I don't want to see a single lit cigarette from your mouth while under my care, got it?" Tsunade warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, don't worry, I know well what happens if I do." Asuma said.
"Good, now get some rest, you'll need it. I've got to head back to my office." Tsunade said leaving.
"Hmph, she worries too much." Asuma said.
"And for good reason, too; you're a heavy smoker. You really should consider quitting." Kurenai said.
"Yes I will quit someday." Asuma said.
"Yes and that day is coming very soon." Kurenai said in a stern voice.
Asuma sighed knowing very well he had not of a say in the matter.
'I guess I better enjoy my last few packs when I get out of here.' He thought.
Tsunade quickly walked back to her office, attempting to not be seen by anyone, not even Shizune until she got a chance to sit down and relax. She quickly poked her head around the corner. All seemed clear for now. She quickly ran around and bumped into Yamato.
"Oh, lady Tsunade, sorry about that, are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes I'm fine, don't worry, but I thought the hallway was clear?" Tsunade asked confused.
"It was the last I saw before rounding the corner myself." Yamato laughed. "It's good timing because I need to talk to you." Yamato said.
Tsunade hesitated. "Uh, not right now, Yamato, this isn't a good time. Is it really that important?"
"Um, well not really, but--"
"Good because I'm a little busy. Whatever it is you can tell me later." Tsunade said quickly stepping into her office and shutting the door behind her.
Yamato scratched his head. "I don't have the time later to tell you that I saw Kakashi, Naruto and Shikamaru heading your way."
Tsunade sighed as she sat heavily in her chair. 'Finally, I can relax for a little bit.' She thought.
She only rested her eyes for a moment but was startled when she heard a knock on the door.
'Who could it possibly be? Shizune can't' be done her rounds already.'
"Come in." She said.
The door slowly opened as Kakashi, Naruto and Shikamaru stepped in.
"Naruto shouldn't you be training, or is something wrong?" Tsunade said.
"Not at all, Tsunade, at least nothing is of yet." Kakashi said.
"It's about Asuma and akatuski. I have reason to believe, with reports of course, that Hidan and Kakuzu plan to come here." Shikamaru said.
"Are you sure you're right about this, Shikamaru?" Tsunade asked.
Shikamaru nodded. "I am and I've been tracking their movements. Besides, Hidan promised he'd be back to finish us all of."
"Think about what you're saying, Shikamaru. It sounds like a plot of revenge for what they did to Asuma." Tsunade said.
"But it's not that, this is for the whole village, and I know this time we won't fail." Shikamaru said.
"He's right; this isn't about vengeance or personal gain. It's about preventing another attack, protecting Naruto. I've already talked to Shikamaru about this, and he's made a list of shinobi for the team. You know he'll go and do it regardless so why not hear him out?" Kakashi said.
"Alright, proceed with your plan, Shikamaru." Tsunade said.
Shikamaru carefully laid out his strategy from a five man squad instead of three to partial battle plan. Tsunade thought for a moment in silence once he was finished.
"It's a good plan, Shikamaru, and I've got to say I'm impressed. However, your strategy is only partial and seemingly reckless. How can I trust all of you to come back alive? We nearly lost Asuma, in which his condition is nothing short of a miracle." Tsunade said.
"I'm aware of that, but--"
"But nothing Shikamaru, these guys are s ranked ninja and you're only chuunin level." Tsunade said.
Kakashi stepped in. "I understand where you're coming from but no other team will e able to beat those two because none of them have unique as skill neither as a leader nor as a cunning mind like Shikamaru. In just a short time alone he figured out Hidan's jutsu. No one else that day could have figured it out as quickly. This time there's an advantage; myself, and Naruto. I'll be there with them, and if I have to, use my mangekyou sharingan. I'll make sure they all make it out alive. Give us some time and if the plan Shikamaru devises doesn't' sound solid I'll call it off and we'll all report back to you." Kakashi said.
"Yeah, come, granny Tsunade!" Naruto pleaded.
The room was silent for five minutes before Tsunade finally spoke.
"Fine, I'm giving you a day to come up with a battle plan. If it's not solid, I'm sending someone else, do you understand?" Tsunade said.
All nodded before stepping out.
"Well guys I guess that's it until tomorrow." Kakashi said.
"What time should we meet tomorrow?" Shikamaru asked.
"I'd say about ten am at the village gate and continue on from there." Kakashi said.
Naruto and Shikamaru nodded. Kakashi turned to Naruto.
"Naruto, why don't you take a break for now and then meet me back at our usual spot in a couple of hours? It'll give you time to enjoy your favourite ramen." He said.
"Right, good idea Kakashi-sensei; I'll see you later then, Shikamaru!" Naruto waved before leaving.
"Hey, Kakashi thanks for your help back there." Shikamaru said.
Kakashi nodded. "It's no problem, Shikamaru, really. I was glad to help you, just don't let this got to your head."
"I won't, I promise." Shikamaru said.
"Alright, I'm off; if you need anything just ask."
Kakashi left Shikamaru in the middle of the hallway.
At that moment, Jiraiya and Obito entered through he front gates of the hidden leaf village. They approached the two guards, Izumo and Kotetsu.
"Hey guys, how are things going, slow?" Jiraiya laughed.
"Yeah, slow as usual of course. Who's your friend, is he visiting for the day?" Izumo asked.
"Yes this is my friend, Yuri. I'll be showing him around the village today. I hope that's alright with you two. It's just he heard so many good things he wanted to see things for himself." Jiraiya said.
"Yes of course, have fun! I hope you enjoy your stay, Yuri!" Kotetsu said.
"We will thank you." Jiraiya said pushing Obito ahead.
"That was well done, Jiraiya-san." Obito said.
"Yes but remember, Obito, you have to lower your voice a little more in case we run into the others." Jiraiya said.
"I know but it's just I feel silly dressed up like this." Obito said.
He walked awkwardly in his disguise. He wore an orange and black robe (he didn't want to look like sketchy wearing all black and orange is his favourite colour), matching ninja style shirt and pants, black shoes with dark lense goggles.
"You're right, Jiraiya-san, much has changed. I didn't get to look around the whole village before." Obito said.
"What do you mean you didn't see this much before? How did you manage to get in the first time?" Jiraiya asked.
Obito looked down embarrassed. "Well I obviously haven't told anyone, but can you keep a secret Jiraiya-san?" He asked.
Jiraiya nodded. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."
Reviews are always welcome, may it even be negative! Let me know how I'm doing! Must be doing well lol.